Jump to: Smith's • ISBE • Easton's • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia Introduction: Paper, as a material for writing, is not directly mentioned in the Bible. However, the concept of writing and recording information is prevalent throughout the Scriptures. The ancient world utilized various materials for writing, including papyrus, parchment, and clay tablets. Understanding the historical context of these materials can provide insight into the biblical text and its transmission. Historical Context: In biblical times, the primary materials for writing were papyrus and parchment. Papyrus, made from the pith of the papyrus plant, was commonly used in Egypt and the surrounding regions. It was a precursor to modern paper and was used for scrolls and documents. Parchment, made from animal skins, was more durable and became the preferred medium for important texts, including the Scriptures. Biblical References to Writing Materials: While the Bible does not mention paper explicitly, it does refer to writing and recording God's words. In Jeremiah 36:2 , God instructs the prophet, "Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah, and all the other nations from the time I began speaking to you, in the reign of Josiah, until today." This passage highlights the importance of recording divine revelation. In 2 Timothy 4:13 , the Apostle Paul requests, "When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments." This indicates the use of scrolls and parchments for preserving important writings, including Scripture. Symbolism and Significance: The act of writing in the Bible often symbolizes the permanence and authority of God's word. In Exodus 31:18 , it is written, "When He had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the Testimony, stone tablets inscribed by the finger of God." Here, the inscription on stone signifies the enduring nature of God's commandments. The use of writing materials also underscores the importance of literacy and the transmission of knowledge. Deuteronomy 6:9 instructs, "Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates," emphasizing the need to keep God's commandments visible and remembered. The Role of Scribes: Scribes played a crucial role in the preservation and dissemination of biblical texts. They meticulously copied Scriptures onto scrolls and parchments, ensuring the accuracy and continuity of God's word. Ezra, a notable scribe, is described in Ezra 7:6 as "a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given." Conclusion: While paper as we know it today was not used in biblical times, the materials and practices of writing in the ancient world were essential for the recording and preservation of Scripture. The Bible's emphasis on writing highlights the significance of documenting and transmitting God's word across generations. Smith's Bible Dictionary Paper[WRITING] Easton's Bible Dictionary The expression in the Authorized Version (Isaiah 19:7), "the paper reeds by the brooks," is in the Revised Version more correctly "the meadows by the Nile." The words undoubtedly refer to a grassy place on the banks of the Nile fit for pasturage.In 2 John 1:12 the word is used in its proper sense. The material so referred to was manufactured from the papyrus, and hence its name. The papyrus (Hebrews gome) was a kind of bulrush (q.v.). It is mentioned by Job (8:11) and Isaiah (35:7). It was used for many purposes. This plant (Papyrus Nilotica) is now unknown in Egypt; no trace of it can be found. The unaccountable disappearance of this plant from Egypt was foretold by Isaiah (19:6, 7) as a part of the divine judgment on that land. The most extensive papyrus growths now known are in the marshes at the northern end of the lake of Merom. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) A substance in the form of thin sheets or leaves intended to be written or printed on, or to be used in wrapping. It is made of rags, straw, bark, wood, or other fibrous material, which is first reduced to pulp, then molded, pressed, and dried.2. (n.) A sheet, leaf, or piece of such substance. 3. (n.) A printed or written instrument; a document, essay, or the like; a writing; as, a paper read before a scientific society. 4. (n.) A printed sheet appearing periodically; a newspaper; a journal; as, a daily paper. 5. (n.) Negotiable evidences of indebtedness; notes; bills of exchange, and the like; as, the bank holds a large amount of his paper. 6. (n.) Decorated hangings or coverings for walls, made of paper. See Paper hangings, below. 7. (n.) A paper containing (usually) a definite quantity; as, a paper of pins, tacks, opium, etc. 8. (n.) A medicinal preparation spread upon paper, intended for external application; as, cantharides paper. 9. (a.) of or pertaining to paper; made of paper; resembling paper; existing only on paper; unsubstantial; as, a paper box; a paper army. 10. (v. t.) To cover with paper; to furnish with paper hangings; as, to paper a room or a house. 11. (v. t.) To fold or enclose in paper. 12. (v. t.) To put on paper; to make a memorandum of. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia PAPERpa'-per. PAPER REEDS redz: In Isaiah 19:7 the King James Version (the Revised Version (British and American) "meadows"). Greek 5489. chartes -- a sheet of paper (made of papyrus strips) ... a sheet of paper (made of papyrus strips). Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: chartes Phonetic Spelling: (khar'-tace) Short Definition: papyrus ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5489.htm - 6k 975. biblion -- a paper, book Strong's Hebrew 6169. arah -- bare place... Word Origin from arah Definition bare place NASB Word Usage bulrushes (1). paper reed. Feminine from arah; a naked (ie Level) plot -- paper reed. ... /hebrew/6169.htm - 6k Library Rating Paper: Apographe And when the Paper was Finished and Read Through... Fraudulent Practices Pursued by Pelagius in his Report of the ... But Perhaps You Will Say to Me: "Why do You Fill Your Paper with ... Salvation Army Publications To the Rev. J. Jowett To the Rev. J. Jowett Chapter seventeen The Formation of the CIM A New Method for Bible Classes Thesaurus Paper (5 Occurrences)... The expression in the Authorized Version (Isaiah 19:7), "the paper reeds by the brooks," is in the Revised Version more correctly "the meadows by the Nile ... /p/paper.htm - 10k Paper-reeds (1 Occurrence) Papyrus (4 Occurrences) Pad (1 Occurrence) Blot (23 Occurrences) Stamp (25 Occurrences) Roll (57 Occurrences) Crown (94 Occurrences) Copy (18 Occurrences) Crafts (2 Occurrences) Resources What is the proper way to dispose of a ruined Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is reductionism? | GotQuestions.org When the Bible is translated into English, how do the translators decide what punctuation to use? | GotQuestions.org Paper: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Paper (5 Occurrences)2 John 1:12 Isaiah 19:7 Jeremiah 32:11 Jeremiah 32:12 Jeremiah 32:16 Subtopics Paper: General Scriptures Concerning Related Terms |
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